The Best Red Carpet Lipstick Under $20

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Need proof that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a Hollywood-approved red lip? You may know Zoey Deutch from Vampire Academy, Beautiful Creatures, or Who What Wear’s spring trends editorial, and now she’s wowing us with the classic red lip color she wore to an event this month is Los Angeles.

It turns out, the perfect shade of red is M.A.C.’s cult classic Lipstick ($16) in Russian Red. And the secret to the shiny finish and sharp outline? Tinted lip balm and Q-tips!

Makeup artist Andre Sarmiento (he’s oft responsible for Kate Bosworth’s bright pout on the red carpet) made the matte texture modern by adding a thick layer of Fresh’s Rose Tinted Balm ($23) on top. “It deepens the color and is more comfortable than matte,” he told us.

Sarmiento’s tips for pulling off a bold hue? “Make sure your lip line is clean,” he told us. “If a bold lip is perfectly applied, it looks chic and expensive. Use Q-Tips ($4) dipped in moisturizer to clean up your lip line after you apply your color, then apply concealer around the lips for that crisp finish.”